Device and method for reducing vibration effects on position measurement

• US 7,421,264 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alberth, William Jr., Schumacher, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US10/282,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20040082306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 455/283, 455/456, 455/567, 455/566, 455/526, 455/552, 455/456.1, 455/153.1, 455/461, 455/466, 455/457, 455/194.1, 455/552.1, 455/550.1, 455/63.1, 455/317, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.08
• US Class Current: 455/283
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/21 Interference related issues ; Issues related to cross-correlation, spoofing or other methods of denial of service
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0215 Interference
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0221 Receivers

Abstract

A device (10) for reducing vibration effects on position measurement includes a receiver (12) for providing position signals (13); and a vibration control circuit (18) operative to control position information generation based on the position signals (13), to prevent position information generation during mechanical vibration of the device (10). A method for reducing vibration effects on position measurement includes receiving position signals through a receiver; and controlling position information generation based on the position signals to prevent the position information generation during mechanical vibration of the device.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a receiver for providing position signals; and

a vibration control circuit operative to control position information generation based on the position signals, to prevent position information generation during mechanical vibration of the device.

2. The device of claim 1, further including a position measurement circuit, coupled to the receiver and the vibration control circuit, operative to generate the position information based on the position signals.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the vibration control circuit generates a processing control signal which prevents the position measurement circuit from generation position information during vibrations of the device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the processing control signal causes the position measurement circuit to perform at least one of:

pausing position information generation and aborting position information generation.

5. The device of claim 1, further including a vibrator switchable between an active or inactive state in response to a vibration control signal from the vibration control circuit, wherein the vibration control circuit places the vibrator in the inactive state during position information generation, and wherein the vibration control circuit controls position information generation by allowing position information generation to occur when the vibrator is in the inactive state.

6. The device of claim 1, further including a vibration detection circuit operative to generate a vibration detection signal in response to detecting vibrations of at least a portion of the device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the vibration detection circuit is an accelerometer.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the vibration control circuit generates a control signal which prevents a position measurement circuit from generating position information generation in response to the vibration detection signal.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the processing control signal causes the position measurement circuit to perform at least one of:

pausing position information and aborting information generation in response to the vibration detection signal.

10. The device of claim 1, further including a reference signal generator operative to provide control signals that control the operation of the receiver and the vibration control circuit.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the reference signal generator is a temperature compensated reference oscillator.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the reference signal generator is a crystal oscillator.

13. The device of claim 1, further including a cellular transceiver operative to transmit voice and/or image data between the device and a cellular network.

14. The device of claim 1, further including a vibration detection circuit operative to detect mechanical vibration that causes a reference signal for the receiver to have varying frequency characteristics.

15. A method for performing position measurements in a device, comprising:

receiving position signals through a receiver; and

controlling position information generation based on the position signals to prevent the position information generation during mechanical vibrations of the device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein controlling position information generation includes pausing position information generation during mechanical vibrations of the device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein controlling position information generation further includes re-initiating position information generation upon termination of the mechanical vibrations of the device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein controlling position information generation includes deactivating a vibrator during position information generation.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling position information generation further includes activating the vibrator upon completion of the position information generation.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein controlling position information generation includes aborting the position information generation.

21. A mobile communication device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory, coupled to the at least one processor, the memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

receive position signals, and

control position information generation based on the position signals to prevent the position information generation during mechanical vibration of the device.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 21, wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform at least one of:

pause position information generation and abort position information generation in response to detection of vibration of at least a portion of the device.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 22, wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to re-initiate position information generation upon termination of the detection of vibration of at least a portion of the device.

24. The mobile communication device of claim 21, wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to deactivate a vibrator during position information generation.

25. The mobile communication device of claim 24, wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to activate the vibrator upon completion of position information generation.

26. The mobile communication device of claim 22, further including a vibration detection circuit.

27. A method of controlling operation of a device including a vibrator mechanically coupled to a position measurement circuit, the method comprising:

receiving a vibration event,

temporarily preventing one of the vibrator and the position measurement circuit from operating while enabling the other of the vibrator and position measurement circuit.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein temporarily preventing includes disabling operation of the vibrator until the conclusion of position measurement operations sensitive to vibrations.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein temporarily preventing includes disabling position measurement operations sensitive to vibrations until the cessation of vibrations.